Issue 4 2023
Image credits:
Daniel Ferris
Tom Sweeney
Contact us:
Our mailing address
Pymble Players Inc.
PO Box 203, St Ives 2075
E: theatre@pymbleplayers.com.au
W: pymbleplayers.com.au
F: facebook.com/PymblePlayers
“Silence has a myriad of meanings. In the theatre, silence is an absence of words, but never an absence of meaning.”
— Sandford Meisner
From the President
Hello to members and past members! Welcome to this issue of Noises Off.
I am delighted to report that the upward trend in our Pymble Players audiences has reached its zenith with 99% of audience capacity for Table Manners. Following on from that outstanding success, we have more exciting theatre events to look forward to during the remainder of 2023 and all of 2024.
Table Manners
Our third play for 2023 was a hit with audiences and reviewers. Congratulations to the entire cast and production team and also all of our supporting staff in marketing, front of house, and administration. I don’t tire of acknowledging the fact that every one of our plays requires the volunteer efforts of around 40-50 people without whose contributions we could not achieve the high level of production values and customer service for which PP is renowned.
Which provides a nice segue into Director Gavin Critchley’s wrap-up later in this newsletter.
Gaslight
As someone once said, “and now for something completely different”: a reimagining of the classic Gaslight. This play premiered in London in 1938 and was adapted to the big screen as two films in both Britain and America. Its themes are as relevant today as then, possibly more so. The contemporary term ‘gaslighting’ applies to mental and emotional manipulation. The term originates from this play. Director Joy Sweeney provides more later in this newsletter. I can’t wait!!
2024 Season Introduction
You will have all received by now our 2024 Season Brochure in the mail. Our 2024 Season Introduction on 20 September will provide further information for you to see if there’s an acting role or backstage role which interests you in any or all of the four plays. Invitations have gone out to you all, and this is a great chance for some catchups and some post-event mingling.
The 2024 Season has also been launched on the PP website on 14 September and Subscription tickets are now available for purchase as outlined in the Brochure.
Special Event: Long Story Short
This end-of-year showcase is produced in collaboration with Space Jump Theatre Company. It will feature eight short diverse plays – please see the PP website for details. Performances will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd December. This is an exciting innovation for PP, and we look forward to your support. Please make a diary note. Further details and publicity are forthcoming. These are three exciting commitments to put in your diaries now!
Best wishes to all.
Warren Blood
President
AND THAT’S A WRAP! – Table Manners
By arrangement with ORIGIN™ Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French – A Concord Theatricals Company
9 August – 3 September 2023
Written by: Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by: Gavin Critchley
And just like that, after ten weeks of rigorous rehearsals and a four-week sell-out season, the Pymble Players production of Alan Ayckbourn’s classic comedy Table Manners has come to an end.
After a bumpy start in May that saw us short one cast member, we ploughed on until we were lucky enough to find our ‘Tom’ in the form of the remarkable Greg Thornton.
To allow for our now shortened rehearsal period with a full cast, we added weekend rehearsals into the mix and set ourselves the task of putting this complex ensemble piece together. Our highly organized Stage Manager, Kate Kelly kept us on track by adjusting the rehearsal schedule on a weekly basis. Her responsibilities were to expand to include a plethora of props and foodstuffs and was relieved when Cheryl Miesch came on board as ASM to share the load.
Our six determined actors went about developing their characters and their on-stage relationships while the set came together around them, thanks to the hard work of Ian Ackland and Joy Sweeney. Special mention here must go to Baz Evans, who – along with his on-stage duties – spent many hours after rehearsals helping me program the sound and lighting cues for the entire show.
Without a doubt, the credit for the success of this production must go to the six amazing actors who brought an endless amount of drive and tenacity to the task. Despite a broken foot in the early weeks, Samantha Lemon (Annie) turned up every week focused and ready to go. Heather Pitt as ‘Sarah’ led from the front with boundless energy and skill, while Justin Corcoran embraced the job of creating a ‘Norman’ that would eventually become an audience favourite. Baz Evans developed a totally convincing ‘Reg’ that was labelled by a well-respected audience member as one of the most controlled performances he’s seen. Diane Howden met the challenge of continuing the established pace with a dynamic late entry as ‘Ruth’, and Greg Thornton brought us a ‘Tom’ that was so freakishly accurate he eventually got laughs without saying a word.
I don’t know how you accurately measure success in this game, but if audience response is anything to go by, I think we did alright. I had audience members with smiles on their faces tell me it was one of the best shows they’d seen here, and the buzz in the Mood Room during Interval was electric. To everyone who contributed to this show, I thank you and can confidently say “job well done”.
Gavin Critchley, Director
The cast signing off: L-R Greg Thornton (Tom), Samantha Lemon (Annie), Baz Evans (Reg), Heather Pitt (Sarah), Justin Corcoran (Norman) and Diane Howden (Ruth).
Cast/Crew: L-R standing back – Tom Sweeney, Kate Kelly, Gavin Critchley, Diane Howden and Justin Corcoran.
L-R seated front – Greg Thornton, Samantha Lemon, Heather Pitt and Baz Evans.
Bump-Out: L-R Kate Kelly and Leah White with their demolition weapons!
OUR NEXT PLAY – Gaslight
By Arrangement With ORiGiN™ Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French - A Concord Theatricals Company
1 November – 26 November 2023
Written by: Patrick Hamilton
Directed by: Joy Sweeney
This classic Victorian thriller is the dark tale of a marriage based on deceit and trickery. Jack Manningham is slowly, deliberately, driving his gentle, devoted wife, Bella, to the brink of insanity with an insinuating kindness that masks more sinister motives. This play, which brought the term ‘gaslighting’ into the modern vocabulary, has some of the most suspenseful and heart-stopping scenes in modern theatre.
You will be on the edge of your seat!
A Note from our Director
After a two-night audition process and over 20 auditionees, I’m absolutely thrilled to say we have a fabulous Gaslight cast. Thank you to everyone who auditioned; you made our task very difficult – what a high standard of acting PP has! We are in our fourth week of rehearsal and have run Act I twice, so all is on track. Rob White is kindly bringing to life my weird set design and has completed the drawings/plans – thank you Rob, what would I do without you? Helen Williams and Cheryl Miesch have come onboard as SMs, we have the fabulous Casey on lights, Geoff on sound, and my creative mate, Wendy Walker, who is helping keep me in line and on my creative metal. Such a great team, I really can’t wait to work with these guys again. We are trying to do some “different” things with this production, technically, so fingers crossed that all works!
Joy Sweeney, Director
Gaslight cast: L-R Kate Kelly, Georgia Drewe, Amelia Conway, Nick Roberts and David Kirkham.
Diary Date: Final Dress Rehearsal – 8pm Monday 30 October 2023
Pymble Players extends an invitation to all financial and Life members to come to the Final Dress Rehearsal of Gaslight at 8pm on Monday 30 October 2023.
2024 SEASON INTRODUCTION
Our 2024 Subscription Season launched on our website on 14 September 2023.
We are excited to invite all past and present members to our 2024 Season Introduction to be held in the Pymble Players Theatre on Wednesday 20 September 2023 at 7pm.
This evening will be an opportunity to meet the directors, hear which plays they are going to present in 2024 and the approach they will take. You will enjoy some prepared readings and get a feel for our fantastic new season. Afterwards, please join us for a relaxed and informal drink and light supper to celebrate and mingle.
This is a great opportunity to see what’s coming up in 2024, and to see if there’s a role you may be keen on (either onstage or backstage) and catch up with fellow theatre lovers. We’d love you to be a part of it.
This is a "one night only event" so RSVP is essential, as numbers are limited to our theatre capacity. Please email theatre@pymbleplayers.com.au with “2024 Season Introduction” in the subject heading. It's "first come, first served"!
Wendy Morton – PP Play Selection Committee
Preview of LONG STORY SHORT
Coming up in December 2023, we’re excited to be presenting an end of year showcase!
Produced in collaboration with Space Jump Theatre Company, Long Story Short will feature eight short plays directed by Brendon Dart, Louise Deibe, Diane Howden, Tracey Okeby Lucan, Kirsty Semaan, Leah White and Rob White.
Running Friday 1st at 7pm, Saturday 2nd at 4pm and 7pm, and Sunday 3rd December at 2pm, come and join us as we wrap up 2023 at Pymble Players with something a little different.
Tickets will be available for purchase from 27 October.
Keep an eye out for an email alert and details on our website.
Members News
This issue of Noises Off highlights Wendy Morton and Ross Alexander, two valued members of our Pymble Players community who have recently joined the ‘new knees brigade’!
Wendy Morton
What are your roles in the PP Committee?
I am currently Vice President and Chair of the Play Selection Sub Committee, which is a job I feel passionate about. It is a privilege to be involved in selecting the plays and directors that will form the PP season each year.
What is your performance/theatrical background?
I was heavily involved in acting through school, community theatre and university until I had my children when I took an unintentional 20-year break! My sons encouraged my return, and I have been fortunate since returning to have had some wonderful roles in some fabulous plays.
What is/was your occupation?
I used to run our family-owned liquor store until I was in the fortunate position to be able to be a stay-at-home mum while my boys grew up. However, I have always been an active volunteer and have loved the variety and community connection that that has brought me.
What would you like PP to look like in five years?
PP is a fabulous organisation, and I am very pleased that it is becoming increasingly inclusive and welcoming. I would like that to continue and for the company to continue to go from strength to strength.
Who have been some of your professional/personal role models?
My mum was an incredible talent on stage, she encouraged and taught me. I love watching talented people like Helen Mirren, Judi Dench and Meryl Streep, who can become different people and yet be so real each time.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Do what you love doing, not what you think others think you should – you’ll be a happier and better person if you do.
What would be your theme song?
I’ve always loved a good musical, and Cabaret is one of my favourites. I love its theme song, which always makes me feel 18 again!
Tell us about your achievements – (theatrical/performance and/or personal)
Without a doubt, my biggest achievement is raising 3 young men who are capable, kind and good people.
Theatrically, my favourite and most special roles have been Gwen in Away, Chris in Calendar Girls and Mari in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. All were significant for different reasons. But I am also proud that I have been a helpful and committed member of whichever community I have been involved in.
Could you comment on the rumours following your knee surgery, that you will be resuming your netball career and taking part in the Overland Track Walk from Cradle Mountain to Lake St. Clair?
Well… perhaps not so much the netball (I’ve never been good at ball skills!)… but I had been hoping to tap dance my way along the Overland Track!
Ross Alexander
What is your performance/theatrical background?
I’ve been involved in community theatre since the early 70s. My first love being musical comedy; growing up with all the big 50s musicals, how could it be otherwise? I learned voice production from Ms Pickworth, who had studied bel canto opera in Italy; the best thing I ever did was to learn how to produce my voice correctly. Many musicals followed with Willoughby, Chatswood and Mosman Musical Societies and during this time, I started to do plays at Woodstock, Burwood. After a 12-year hiatus, my last play/musical being Venetian Twins at Castle Hill Players, I returned to doing plays at Hunters Hill Theatre and Pymble Players.
What is/was your occupation?
I’m retired but worked in electronics for the majority of my working life – firstly as a technician and then in professional sales and marketing management. Later in my working life, due to family issues, I returned to a technician/customer support role in fire control systems.
Who have been some of your professional/personal role models?
In spite of only having my mother until I was 10, I still think that she was my greatest role model. My father left when I was a baby, and my mother became the universal role model. She was a beautiful person who always carried herself with dignity and grace, as well as possessing a beautiful, pure soprano voice. She worked as a line manager for the State Public Service examinations branch. She would have been paid a portion of a man’s wage, and when she died, her position was given to two men. It still pisses me off!
There have been many theatrical role models. Just watching the many talented performers I’ve worked with was a master class in itself. On the TV, Lucille Ball was a huge influence. Her facial expressions and physical comedy are hard to better!
What advice would you give your younger self?
My advice to my younger self would be to work harder at school, never care about people’s opinion of you, and play more tennis.
What would be your theme song?
I’ve always loved stories and songs about growing as a person and redemption. As a Beatles fan, I really can’t go past Blackbird as my theme song.
Tell us about some achievements – (theatrical/performance and/or personal)
There have been many achievements over the years, both personally and theatrical. Personally, finding and marrying the love of my life, Frances, and the birth of our two children. On stage, I loved doing Les Mis at Willoughby Musical Society. What an amazing show to be part of. My favourite musical role was as Moonface Martin in Anything Goes at WMS. My favourite part in a play was as Wilfred in Quartet with Pymble Players. What an incredible ensemble, and the mimed opera quartet at the end – transcendent.
What’s ahead for you?
What’s ahead: I hope more involvement in theatre, on stage and behind the scenes. I’m looking forward to being a grandfather at some time. Travel is now more of an option for me, particularly as my bionic knees have been installed.
Now that you’ve had your knees done, will you be resuming your formerly lucrative tap/Cossack dancing career?
Any malicious rumours that I may be contemplating a return to my dancing career – now that I’ve got new knees – are completely fake news.
Geoff Jones, Membership Manager
CASTING CALL – Sound and Lights Operators and Designers
Pymble Players need sound and lights operators and designers for our upcoming season.
It is exciting to be part of a production so directly as an operator. Operation is not difficult or onerous. It is rewarding to contribute so directly as an operator. As designers, you will work in collaboration with a director to create atmosphere. We need experienced designers to add to our team as well.
I would be happy to show you our operating equipment and have you run through sound and lighting cues to get the sense of what’s required. We use QLab which drives sound and lights (Chamsys lighting console) via a single operator.
Training will be provided in a supportive environment. Come on…join our team!
Contact me: Geoff Jones theatre@pymbleplayers.com.au
URGENT – MALE ACTOR REQUIRED – ANY AGE
Our friends at The Theatre on Chester are looking for a male actor to play the role of Mr Green in their November production of Clue. Unfortunately, the actor they had cast has had to withdraw to travel overseas.
See details below. If you are interested – please contact the director Isaac Owen on 0438 069 692. As you’ll see in Actor’s Away, you will be in good company with other PP regulars!
CLUE
On Stage
Adapted from the screenplay by JONATHAN LYNN
Additional Materials by HUNTER FOSTER, ERIC PRICE & SANDY RUSTIN
Adapted from the Paramount Pictures film written by Jonathan Lynn and the board game from HASBRO inc.
Directed by Isaac Owen
MR. GREEN – a timid, yet officious, rule follower. He’s a bit of a klutz and awfully anxious. Often sneezing, tripping, bumping.
PERFORMANCE DATES
Wednesday 1st November – Saturday 25th November:
1/11 (Preview), 3/11 (Opening), 4/11*, 5/11*, 8/11, 10/11, 11/11, 12/11*, 15/11, 17/11, 18/11*, 19/11*, 22/11, 24/11, 25/11.
*Performances as marked are at 5pm, all others are at 8pm.
Cast required 1 hour prior.
At Theatre on Chester Cnr. Chester and Oxford Streets, Epping
Rehearsals are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm plus additional rehearsals closer to the performance dates.
ARTISTS AWAY
Mitchell Doran performed in the Subscribers Night at The Pavilion Theatre, Castle Hill Players, in a rehearsed reading of The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on 8 and 9 September.
Wayne Chee is lighting designer for The Pirates of Penzance at Eastwood Uniting Church Musical Society, 22 September to 7 October.
Blake Paish is performing in Cactus Flower at The Pavilion Theatre, Castle Hill Players,
22 September to 24 October. Directed by Stephen Snars.
Chantel Ciano and Susan Boyd are performing in The Third Act at Elanora Players, 29 September to 7 October. Directed by Robert Longley.
Karen Pattinson is performing in Four Flat Whites in Italy at The Genesian Theatre, 14 October to 4 November. Directed by Tui Clark.
Daniel Ferris and Clive Hobson are performing in Clue at The Theatre on Chester, Epping, 3 to 25 November. Directed by Isaac Owen.
Murray Fane is performing in Catch Me If You Can at The Hills Musical Theatre Company, 10 to 18 November.
Linda Young, Judy Jankovics and Tonia Davis are performing in The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race at Hunters Hill Theatre, 17 November to 3 December 2023. Directed by Jennifer Willison. Geoff Jones is sound designer.
Casey Moon-Watton is set designer for The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race. Casey also contributed lighting design for Flight Path Theatre as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival.
David Allsopp is performing as Sherlock Holmes in Baskerville at The Pavilion Theatre, Castle Hill Players, 17 November to 9 December. Directed by Jason Spindlow.
For inclusion in Artists Away, please let us know details of the production in which you are performing or involved by sending information to theatre@pymbleplayers.com.au Attention: Noises Off. We look forward to hearing from you!
REVIEWS – Table Manners
Table Manners - Book now if you would like a seat at the table.
Published 20 August 2023 by Stage Whispers
Table Manners by Alan Ayckbourn is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. What better time then for Pymble Players to bring this play to the stage. One of a trilogy of plays called The Norman Conquests, Table Manners follows the drama of a dysfunctional family over the course of a weekend. Thrown together unexpectedly on this occasion, the relatives simultaneously loathe yet love each other, creating a familiar mix of comedy and drama that so often accompanies forced family gatherings.
Table Manners will play until the 3rd of September. There are not a lot of tickets left so book now if you would like a seat at the table.
Table Manners: Pymble Players Perform a Classic Ayckbourn Comedy
Published 14 August 2023 by Sydney Arts Guide
TABLE MANNERS premiered in 1973 in England. It is a very middle class English story, and it is very funny. The one-liners keep the story upbeat despite some unlikeable characters and the misery of the dutiful daughter who has spent years caring for the bed-ridden mother.
The Pymble Players have done a wonderful job of producing this farce, not the easiest of genres to get right but this community theatre group has succeeded.
Table Manners - a tumultuous rollercoaster ride of emotions.
Published 13 August 2023 by The Fourth Wall
"Table Manners" serves as the inaugural piece within a trilogy crafted by Ayckbourn. Each of these plays revolves around the dynamics of a consistent ensemble of six characters, all intimately intertwined by the threads of a shared weekend sojourn at the family's countryside home. In this narrative, Annie, baby of the family, entrusts the care of her unseen, ailing mother to her brother and sister-in-law. Meanwhile, Annie herself seeks solace in a well-deserved weekend getaway—although the true nature of her intentions is later revealed to be a clandestine rendezvous with her brother-in-law, Norman. What unfolds is a tumultuous rollercoaster ride of emotions, an experience uniquely reserved for a family that possesses an uncanny familiarity that teeters on the edge of loathing.
The ensemble of six actors effortlessly embodies the complex tapestry of a dysfunctional family unit.
I walked into this production knowing nothing of the story, and left having laughed my way through it.
I give this play 3.5 lettuce leaves out of 5.